Goodnight Vietnam
We are now leaving Vietnam for China. The country has made a strong and favourable impression on me. It is a fascinating fusion of state one-party capitalism and budding capitalism. Even in our short stay we encountered a young boy no more than 15 running between coach drop-offs trying to sell his postcards. If he was not such a pest and they were so over-priced I might have been tempted. I saw a girl no more than 13, kitten perched on her shoulder, setting up in a tent of canned drinks for tourists. The people are friendly, hard working and resourceful. Its tourism is advancing in leaps and bounds. One lady who had visited Ha Long Bay two years ago was amazed to find on her return a high rise hotel, suspension bridge and ferris wheel. The country has its drawbacks too. Corruption is supposedly rife and there is feeling conveyed by some local guides of 1984-style surveillance.
In the macro world of the cruise ship Daffer’s criticism of the gala dinner being too loud was echoed by many. I had lunch with my new best friend the Israeli art curator who said much the same. Mr Know All from Dorking said it was delight to go to the cigar lounge and listen to classical music. A delight for us left on the table too.
I generally keep myself to myself during the day. One meal, normally supper, with our group is quite sufficient thank you. Last night we ate under the stars at The Grill. We all enjoy the lava griddle and the the cooked meat and fish it produces. I had my pre-ordered lobster followed by filet mignon. One of our group annoyed by the narrow choice of desert managed to negotiate a chordate fondant. There did not seem any subject outside the great knowledge and opinion of Dorking Man. For the third time his assertion that he calmed the Matre D on Brexit fell on deaf ears. I reflected for the umpteenth time how vulnerable you are at sea to the Olympian bore simply because it is so difficult to avoid him/her. He also has an odd and unsettling bark of a laugh normally reserved for his own supposed jokes. Still if the company was so-so the food and service were impeccable.
